"The Union of Burma will be 60 years old on 12 February 2007; it was established after the signing of the Panglong Agreement on 12 February 1947. Nevertheless, the country still encounters a number of horrible problems and has not yet emerged as a genuine Union. Accusing the Shan leaders, who were attempting to re-establish the country into a genuine union by peaceful means, as secessionists, the military staged a coup in 1962, claiming that it was trying to prevent a collapse of the Union of Burma. Then, the military regime revoked the 1947 Constitution and has governed the country until today. As a result, the country?s situation has gradually deteriorated. Currently, the Union of Burma continues to exist in form, but the unity of the ethnic nationalities has completely collapsed in essence. As the country has no peace, the people live under atrocious conditions of impoverishment..."